Some changemakers see a problem and walk past it.
Others see a problem and become the solution.
Victoria Aliu is a passionate community advocate and youth leader, and the founder of Girls & More.Her grassroots initiative of building Girls & More is to transforming the lives of girls and young women across rural Nigeria, one opportunity at a time.
Her journey begins in Gidan Kwano, where she witnessed girls abandon their dreams due to menstrual poverty, lack of opportunity, and limiting norms. Instead of turning away, she turned that pain into purpose. Today, she leads programs in menstrual hygiene, skills training, youth development, and gender equality , helping girls reclaim confidence and hope.
Below is her story, in her own words.
Tell us a bit about your background
My name is Victoria Aliu, and I am a passionate community development advocate, youth leader, and the Founder of Girls & More, an initiative committed to empowering girls and young women through education, mentorship, and grassroots impact.
Over the years, I have worked across communities in Niger State, Nigeria especially Gidan Kwano designing and executing projects centered on quality education, menstrual hygiene, gender advocacy, and youth leadership.
I also serve as a project manager, volunteer coordinator, and SDG advocate, working with civil society organizations to mobilize young people and address social issues at the grassroots level. My work is focused on building confidence, capacity, and opportunities for girls and young women so they can break limits and thrive, regardless of where they come from.
What first inspired you to begin this journey?
My journey started in the rural community where I went to school in Niger State. Every day, I saw girls my age dropping out because of lack of opportunities, menstrual poverty, or harmful norms. I saw so much potential, yet so many limitations.
But the turning point came the day I watched a young girl abandon her dream of becoming a nurse simply because she didn’t have access to menstrual products. That moment stayed with me. I realized impact doesn’t always begin with big money or big platforms , sometimes it begins with a burden you can’t ignore.
So I started taking small steps: volunteering, running community outreaches, providing reusable pads, teaching skills, and later launching Girls & More. What began as compassion became a calling.
A defining challenge you faced and how you navigated it
One of my biggest challenges was starting with very limited resources. I had ideas, passion, and a clear vision, but funding and support were not always available. Many times, I had to convince stakeholders to believe in what I was doing.
What kept me going was resilience and community trust. I learned to start with what I had, partner strategically, write proposals, build credibility, and stay consistent.
With time, people saw results, and the support began to grow.
The lesson?
Start small, stay true, and allow your impact to speak louder than your limitations.
What impact do you feel your work has created so far?
My work has empowered hundreds of girls and young women through skills training, menstrual hygiene projects, and community education.
Through Girls & More and several partnerships:
1. We have taught girls how to make reusable pads.
2. Improved menstrual hygiene knowledge in rural areas.
3. Supported community girls with school materials.
4. Encouraged youth leadership and volunteerism.
5. Strengthened the voice of young people in advocacy spaces.
6. Beyond numbers, the greatest impact is seeing girls regain confidence, return to school, build skills, and dream again. When a girl says, “Your outreach changed my life,” it reminds me why this work matters.
What is your vision for the future?
My vision is to scale Girls & More into a wider-reaching organization that empowers over 10,000 girls across rural communities in Nigeria. I want to build a system that provides sustainable menstrual hygiene access, leadership pathways, and educational opportunities for girls.
I also hope to deepen my work in youth development, expand partnerships, and create models that communities can replicate.
Ultimately, I want every African girl , regardless of where she lives , to have the confidence, support, and platform to thrive.
What message would you share with others who want to create positive change?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. Start where you are, with what you have, and with who you can reach. Impact is not about perfection; it’s about intentionality.
Ask yourself:
1. What problem breaks my heart?
2. What small action can I take today?
And then take the step. Volunteer. Learn. Connect. Serve. You grow into your impact as you move.
Remember:
Great changemakers don’t start big, , they start by saying yes to the first small opportunity to help someone.
UPDEED’s Reflection
Victoria Aliu represents the courage to care, leadership rooted in lived experience, guided by compassion, and sustained through relentless dedication. Her work with Girls & More proves that empowering girls does more than transform individual lives; it uplifts entire communities and shapes the future for generations to come.
At UPDEED, we are proud to spotlight Victoria as a changemaker whose impact is restoring dignity, opening opportunities, and inspiring all of us to act with purpose and empathy. Her story is a powerful reminder that when we lead with care, meaningful change becomes possible.
